Planting Trees Is a Breeze

Planting Trees Can Help You Cut Costs

Looking for a way to cut air conditioning costs? Plant shade trees on the southwest and
southeast side of your house. How about saving on your heating bills? Plant evergreens on the
north side. Maybe you want a little fresh air, a little color, or a little shelter for
wildlife. Trees can do it all. Planting trees is a wonderful thing to do. Trees add beauty to
your landscaping, while helping out the environment and air quality. Planting them is easy, if
you follow a few simple steps.

Plan

You have a lot of variables to take into consideration when you're thinking about planting a
tree. Your lot size, soil condition, and climate will influence your choice. Also, you should
decide what you want from your tree. If you want quick shade, silver maples grow fast enough to
give it to you in a few years. Dogwoods, crabapples, crape myrtle, and purple-leafed plum give
you beautiful blossoms the following spring. You have lots of choices.

Buy Your Tree

Timing is important when you buy a tree. Wait till the fall, since that's the ideal time for
planting it. Trees are sold in containers, bare-root, or with root balls. If you plant yours in
the fall, the combination of warm soil and cool air stimulates root growth. So your tree can
get established before the frost sets in.

Start Digging

This is the fun part. You need to dig a hole that's deep enough for the tree's roots to sit
on solid dirt, with the soil line slightly above ground level. If you have a bare-root tree,
dig the hole at least six inches below the soil line, so that the roots can be surrounded by
loose soil.

Fertilize and Plant

Your tree needs a good home in the soil, with lots of nutrients. Mix up one part yard soil
with one part amended soil, such as
Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees, Shrubs, and Ornamentals. Make a small mound in the
center of your hole and place your trees on it. The soil line should be slightly higher than
ground level. If you tree has a root ball, untie it and start filling the hole with your soil
mixture. Tamp the soil gently with your foot as you go so that there's a slight depression
around the base for catching water.

Certain activities provided via the website may be covered by U.S. Patent No. 5,930,474

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